City of Flint to select a Third Ward Ambassador while council seat remains vacant

Flint, MI — City officials are stepping in to ensure that Flint’s Third Ward is represented on the Flint City Council.

The seat has been vacant since Sept. 29, 2024, after Third Ward Flint Councilman Quincy Murphy died. The Flint City Charter requires the council to appoint someone to fill this seat within 30 days. 

“The council is in violation of the City Charter and now the matter is in court,” said Ed Taylor, City of Flint Chief of Staff, in a Dec. 27 email statement. “We have no idea when they will appoint someone. This is an unprecedented situation, and unprecedented situations require innovative ideas.”

The Flint City Council has been split on who should serve as president and vice president. According to the Flint City Charter, the president and vice president’s terms are 12 months. Some members say the council can’t move forward with city business until the new officers are in place, which caused a series of split votes and stalled city business, including filling the Third Ward seat, because of a lack of quorum over the issue.

Following a complaint filed by the Flint Ethics and Accountability Board, 7th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kelly assigned a “special master” or mediator on Dec. 11 in hopes of bridging the divide with a split City Council. All parties must agree upon a schedule with the mediator by Jan. 6, 2025; otherwise, Kelly will set a date.

Kelly gave the council permission to move forward with city business but the Third Ward is still without representation.

According to the Dec. 27 statement, city officials will select a Third Ward Ambassador by Jan. 15.

Residents interested in becoming the new Third Ward Ambassador should email Taylor at dpettway@cityofflint.com now through January 10, 2025. Emails will be reviewed for consideration as received.